Local legend’s passion earns national honour

Local Croydon footy legend, Roger ‘Rooster’ O’Brien, has taken out the top honour in the Local Sports Star awards receiving the Service to Sport prize.

For more than 70 years, O’Brien, now aged 84, has been part of the Croydon Blues in many different roles. He played in the 1960 team that won the club’s first Division 1 premiership, which he says was the highlight of his career. He has coached both the reserves and juniors. In the 1970s, he was instrumental in founding the past players committee and is now heavily involved with the legends and welfare group of the club.

The Leader Local Sports Star Awards recognise players, teams, coaches and volunteers who contribute to local sporting clubs. O’Brien was named the Victorian winner in the Service to Sport category at the awards ceremony at the MCG in September. All state winners qualified for the national awards and O’Brien was the only Victorian winner.

The award was presented by Stephen Quartermain, sports presenter for 10 News First. O’Brien was thrilled with the award and he told Kiel Egging of the Maroondah Leader:

“It’s unbelievable, absolutely fantastic. Even the last one at the MCG, just to get that I was stoked, and now to get this I’m really, really pleased.”

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